Chris Petersen is uncomfortably different, get used to it.
|Sometimes coaches will say shit at introductory press conferences just to get fans and media riled up, and sometimes that thing will then disappear. It could be a philosophy, and anecdote or, in Chris Petersen’s case, the type of players he wants.
“OKGs” coach Pete said.
Our Kind of Guys.
Guys are going to do things the Washington way or they won’t be Washington football players.
It turns out, Petersen’s press conference spiel wasn’t just some shit. It’s a real life thing. And none of my friends down in Boise are surprised in the least at this morning’s news of star junior cornerback Marcus Peters’ dismissal from the Washington football program.
I found out this morning as I woke up to get ready for work. My mind started to race to all of the possibilities of why Petersen would kick off the only experienced player in his thin, young and inexperienced secondary.
Did Peters fail a drug test? Is there a police incident that the Seattle Times just uncovered?
Nope. Peters has been dismissed because he got into an argument with coaches on Wednesday, one of many such incidents throughout the season.
Petersen told reporters Thursday that it was a culmination of a number of incidents throughout the season.
It’s strange to think about. Arguably, one of Washington’s five best players has been kicked off the team because he was constantly getting lippy with coaches. He didn’t get in trouble with the police, he didn’t break NCAA rules, he just didn’t get along with coaches.
There are multiple ways to look at this.
In the short term, Washington will replace Peters with another true freshman, albeit a talented one. Naijiel Hale, Budda Baker and Sidney Jones will lead the secondary against future NFL quarterback Brett Hundley this weekend. Kicking Peters off the team is a detriment in the short-term. It’s scary to think about and I don’t think Saturday will be very fun unless Hou’Oli Kikaha is in Hundley’s grill on every pass attempt.
So let’s think about the long-term implications. From Petersen’s point of view, no decision of this magnitude is just about this season. He didn’t uproot himself from Boise just because of the 2014 season. He’s trying to build something bigger, a legacy, at Washington. That will take multiple seasons. I think that for him this sets an example for a young, yet very talented, group of players in his secondary. If players and coaches aren’t on the same page, then what’s the point? That’s what Baker, Hale and Jones need to be aware of. Unlike Peters, these kids signed letters of intent knowing Petersen would be their coach.
Our Kind of Guys.
Petersen does things different, and it’s going to take a while for us to get used to. I can confidently say that Petersen’s predecessor at Washington would not have resorted to this, and I can’t say whether that is a good or a bad thing.
Peters’ play this season certainly backed up the fact he was a highly scouted player at the cornerback position with a sure NFL future. He had three interceptions and has helped lead a secondary consisting of two true freshmen shore up the back of a Husky defense consisting of three other potential first round picks in the front seven.
Petersen chose to make a decision and make an example. A future NFL cornerback is not on the team anymore. At all. And it’s insane to think about.